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Juneau Sled Dog Discovery

Transportation Included

From the cruise ship pier/downtown

Great for Dog Lovers!

Includes time with husky puppies

1 Mile Rainforest Ride

On dog-driven wheeled cart

Description

Join real Alaskan husky sled teams for a ride on the Juneau Sled Dog Discovery. This tour actually puts you in the seat of a custom, wheeled dog cart being pulled by a team of 14-16 Alaskan Huskies. Professional mushers, who race with these same teams in the winter, provide a glimpse into Alaska's state sport with you on board! Join them and their teams for a 1-mile ride through Tongass National Rainforest on beautiful Douglas Island. After the ride, you'll be treated to an informative presentation with a knowledgeable dog handler and a retired sled dog. Together they showcase what it takes to run the arduous winter races such as the Iditarod, by exploring the equipment, nutrition, and care required for a husky team. And after the presentation, you'll have time to spend and interact with the adorable husky puppies!

With a pick-up right from the cruise docks, the tour begins with a short drive out to Douglas Island, where these teams call home for the summer months. You'll meet the mushers and excited dog teams who are ready and willing to take you for a ride! You can literally feel the excitement as they begin lunging forward and the cart begins rocking before the musher releases the brakes...and you're off!

Mushers begin issuing commands and instantly you're being pulled by a team of 14 huskies. As you're seated between the musher and his team, you can feel the bond and the relationship they share, which is cemented as the musher may recount stories of their training or racing efforts. It quickly sets in that this just isn't a staged tour, but a way of life for these mushers. The 'kennel talk' after the ride answers any lingering questions before you have time to visit with the husky puppies. You can hold them if you're feeling up for it! You'll undoubtedly leave this tour with some amazing pictures to share from your musher camp experience in Juneau!

Want more budget-friendly shore excursions in the Inside Passage? Take a look at the Scenic River Float in Skagway and the Wildlife Sanctuary & Eagle Center in Ketchikan!

What's Included

Round Trip Transportation

Knowledgeable Guides

Guide Gratuities

Food & Drink

Frequently Asked Questions

What if our cruise ship's schedule is canceled or delayed?

We will try our best to work with you to reschedule the tour to a later time. If that is not a possibility or your ship doesn't make it into port, then you will receive a refund, less any non-refundable fees.

Do I get to drive the sled?

No one knows the dogs like their mushers, for this reason, passengers are not allowed to drive the sled. Driving the sled, as well as keeping the dogs in line, takes skills and knowledge that is only acquired through experience.

How long is the sled ride? Is it bumpy?

The sled ride is about a mile long. Sometimes, the ride can be a little bumpy, but our guides are usually able to avoid the bumps well enough. The speed, as well as the exact timing, of the ride is dependent upon both the dogs’ performance as well as the weather on the day of your visit. So, there is truly no way for us to say exactly how fast the sled will go on any given run.

Is the sled ride on snow?

In both Skagway and Juneau, our excursion takes place on the ground in the woods, and we use a customized summertime wheeled sled. Our summertime sleds are a great way to experience mushing without the cold temperatures and heavy snow of wintertime Alaska.

How many people will fit on the sled?

Six guests plus the musher go together on the sled. We normally run more than one sled at a time, so we can easily accommodate larger groups.

Know Before You Book

Minimum Age: There is no minimum age to join this tour

Each sled holds 6 guests + 1 musher with multiple sleds running at one time.

Collapsible wheelchairs are permitted, but guests must be able to walk 100 yards and raise knees 12 inches to accommodate steps.

Cancel up to 14-days before the tour for a refund. No refund is available if canceled within 14-days of the tour. If for any reason your tour is canceled, or if your cruise ship's schedule changes, you will receive a refund. Refunds do not include any non-refundable fees. Contact us by phone or email to request a cancellation.

Quick Facts

City

Juneau

Itinerary • 2h 20min • 5 activities

Guides will meet you at the main cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau for transfer to the sled dog camp.

Duration

25 minutes

Make your way to the trailhead to meet the team of dogs and mushers that will take you out on your trail ride.

Duration

30 minutes

Learn more about the history of the sport and what it takes to properly care for and race a team of dogs.

Duration

30 minutes

Get your cameras ready! You'll have a chance to snuggle with some adorable husky puppies and since you can't take them home, a picture will have to do.

Duration

25 minutes

Once you are done, your driver will return you to the cruise ship dock.

Duration

25 minutes